Description
Chromium diopside is a mineral and a variety of diopside, named for its chromium admixtures. It has only recently been used as a gemstone but is becoming increasingly popular. Chromium diopside occurs in ultramafic rocks and sometimes forms crystals up to 10 cm in size. Some of the finest chromium diopsides come from the basic Inagli Massif in Siberia and are incorrectly called Siberian emeralds. Smaller deposits are known from the Urals. On the American continent, stones occur in Cuba, Mexico, and Brazil. Other deposits are in Kenya, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Madagascar. In Europe, chromium diopside is found in Finland.
